Anti-icing potential of petal shaped nanostructures planted on array micro-patterns
The aim of a paper was to report a strategy of planting a layer of petal shaped nanostructures on the surface of array micro-patterns, and producing excellent superhydrophobicity and anti-icing properties. A comparative investigation with a market mature product yielded remarkable results.
The superhydrophobic surfaces were prepared by modifying petal shaped nanostructures planted on array micro-patterns on aluminum substrate with fluoroalkylsilane. Meanwhile, the scientists studied the effects of chemical etching process parameters on morphology and superhydrophobicity, and explored the anti-icing potential under the condition of icing wind tunnel.
Tremendous anti-icing potential
The results indicated that the process parameters including NaOH concentration of 0.05 M, etching time of 5 min, and the subsequent boiling time of 40 min were of benefit to producing the ideal nanostructure morphology and geometric dimension, and the resultant surface displayed an excellent superhydrophobicity with an apparent contact angle of 165° and sliding angle being almost equal to zero. Furthermore, the as-superhydrophobic surface generated a tremendous anti-icing potential, greatly preventing the icing accumulation at -10 °C under the condition of icing wind tunnel, and exhibiting a lower ice adhesion strength comparing with a market mature production of superhydrophobic coating.
The study is published in: Surface and Coatings Technology, Volume 319, 15 June 2017, Pages 286-293
